[bikinidreamer]

I am totally terrified to cook. I avoid it at all costs because I don’t know the meaning of portion control. I am afraid that if i cook a meal for me and my family, I am going to go crazy and over eat. I don’t know how to just take a little bit and leave it alone knowing there’s all those leftovers waiting to go in the fridge. I am deathly afraid that I will cook this delicious meal (im an awesome cook) and binge like crazy! So I opt to feed my kids frozen, processed food instead. I have got some serious issues.

[tater tash]

I can totally feel you there! I LOVE to cook and BAKE! But my problem is that it's just me and my boyfriend. So I end up baking more than enough for 2 people. I started wrapping up food and setting them in our complex community room for everyone to enjoy!

When it comes to cooking meals, I usually portion all my ingredients alone to the side and kind of cook my own mini batch, giving the rest of the food to others eating. You could also try portioning food for the whole family so it is less likely to have left-overs that look so good come midnight cravings!

Good Luck!

[Chelby29]

Rachael Rae's cookbooks are all geared to a family of 4. Maybe that will help with portions?

[ronni62]

Don't know if this will help, but, since I have to cook larger meals than we eat in one sitting so my DH will have leftovers to take to work, I portion the leftovers out right away after the meal. I put DH's lunches in containers for work and anything that can't be used within 3 or 4 days goes in single-serving containers in the freezer. To watch my portions, I measure mine out at the beginning of the meal. Not to say I've never taken an extra bite (or 2 or 3...), but having DH's lunches in their own containers keeps me from 'grazing' from the fridge later! Having his stuff all portioned out and prepared for the lunch box helps keep me from binging on the leftovers.

[KforKitty]

I usually only cook sufficient each evening for each of us to have a reasonable size portion. I've gotten to know how much this is. I rarely cook enough to have left overs and we never do second-helpings. I buy my meat in bulk and portion it out for freezing in approx 1lb servings. We're a family of 4.

Kitty

[PJS145]

I don't know that I'd go by Rachael Ray's cookbook for portion control! Just the other day I saw her make 1/2 pound burgers with sauce, etc. on them. That's more than a portion of protein for me!

[bikinidreamer]

Thank you all so much! Those are some really good suggestions. I think when it comes down to it, I just have to have my own personal control. I can't lose sight of my goal. When something is just sooooo tasty that I want to go back for more, I just have to tell myself that I can have it for lunch or dinner the next day. I will definately try to make sure that I only cook enough for 4 people and immediately freeze any left-overs. I'm less likely to defrost something when i'm not hungry, plus its better food safety than leaving it in the fridge. And thank you all again for your wonderful suggestions they helped me a lot!!!!!